One killed in gang fight in E Timor capital

A young man has been stabbed to death in the latest fighting between youth gangs on the streets of the East Timorese capital, a hospital official says.

The violence pitted two groups of youths from different regions of East Timor in the Colmera commercial district of Dili.

"One youth, about 20 years old, died today. He was already dead when he was picked up by the ambulance in Colmera," Americos dos Santos said, head of the emergency unit of the Guido Valadares hospital in Dili.

Police declined to comment and Dr dos Santos says the body remained unidentified.

The incident was the latest in a series involving youth gangs to have hit the city since then-prime minister Dr Mari Alkatiri dismissed 600 soldiers, more than a third of the tiny armed forces, when they deserted complaining of discrimination.

Protests turned violent and degenerated into conflict pitting East Timorese from the west and east of the nation, prompted the deployment of 3,200 international peacekeepers in May to restore security.

At least 21 people died.

An independent United Nations report aimed at finding out who was responsible for failing to curb the bloodshed was due to be released around October 7, but has been delayed while it is translated into several languages, the UN has said.